Diploma Courses That One Can Pursue After BDS (Dental Degree)

A common question that has grown in students studying dentistry is “What should I pursue after BDS which is merely a dental degree?” This question unites all the students concerned and the final product that comes out of this question is “confusion”.

The students face problems because “BDS as a course doesn’t help them get into MNC placements.” A simple BDS degree doesn’t let a student get that necessary clinical exposure.

But for those who have not been able to gain a seat in the MDS citing multiple reasons need not worry, they can opt for diplomas and dental clinical courses. Diploma courses after BDS are of two types i.e. private and government diplomas. The basic differences between government and private diplomas are affordability (government diplomas are cheap) and Dental Council of India (DCI) approval (only government diplomas have it).

Here are a few diplomas and courses a BDS graduate can apply for:

Private Diploma Courses

There are way too many private diploma courses. In fact, many seasoned dentists are running private diploma courses with big profit margins. The course fee varies differently for different courses. Those looking for clinical experience should opt for this.

Government Diploma Courses

DCI has approved many state dental-councils to run approved dental diploma courses in lasers, endodontics and orthodontics.

In Delhi, IGNOU offers Post-Graduate Certificate in Oral Implantlogy (PGCOI) which has a course duration of 1-3 years at an estimated fees of 1, 56,000 INR.

Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) 2-year PG diploma

RGUHS, Bangalore offers a 2-year diploma course in dentistry. The candidate is eligible if he/she has a BDS degree or an equivalent degree from a University recognized by DCI.

The course is divided into 4 semesters in which the first two semesters deal with Preclinical Work and Applied Basic Sciences and the next two semesters deal with Clinical work.

Candidates looking for experience and degree can opt for this course.

Dental Clinical Courses

One can also opt for various Dental Clinical Courses in Delhi. These courses have multiple specialties like oral surgery, dental implants, periodontics, and prosthodontics. These courses can help you achieve specialty which is a major trend in the medical industry.

Other Courses

A wide range of opportunities lie in the dental departments in hospitals, dental clinics and nursing homes. Apart from this, the Forensic department needs dentists for identification of deceased through bite mark analysis, dental remains etc.

You can also choose to work as a Dental Hygienist or as Dental assistants to models and film artists.

Hence, there is absolutely no need to dishearten yourself post your BDS studies. You can choose your study mode from the above mentioned options. And while pursuing a diploma course you can research for further opportunities in the field and assess your options.